NBA Today - March 28
Wed, Mar 28, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, March 28
Miami at Toronto (7 p.m. EDT). The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors face the Heat, who overtook Washington for the lead in the Southeast with a win on Monday night.
STARS
Tuesday
- LeBron James, Cavaliers, had 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists as Cleveland beat Indiana 105-94 to clinch a playoff berth.
-Josh Howard, Mavericks, had 25 points and 10 rebounds as Dallas beat New Orleans 105-89 for its 21st straight victory over the Hornets.
- Rashard Lewis, SuperSonics, scored 21 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter as Seattle overcame a 25-point second-half deficit to defeat Minnesota 114-106.
SNAPPED
Kobe Bryant, who scored at least 40 points in five straight games, including 50 in the first four, shot 7-of-26 and scored only 23 Tuesday night in an 88-86 loss to lowly Memphis. The Lakers are 34-12 against the Grizzlies, but Memphis has won eight of the last 11 between the teams.
DOMINANT
The Hornets haven't beaten Dallas in 21 games since the turn of the century, the longest losing streak for one team against an opponent in the NBA, NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball. The Mavericks, who beat New Orleans 105-89 Tuesday night, last lost in the series Nov. 17, 1999, in Charlotte.
SURGING
Defending NBA champion Miami is 12-4 since Feb. 23 to take over first place in the Southeast Division for the first time this season.
BAD FINISH
Earl Watson scored a career-high 24 points as Seattle overcame a 25-point deficit in a 114-106 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night, the Timberwolves' largest blown lead in team history.
MOVING UP
Cleveland improved to 13-4 with G Sasha Pavlovic in the starting lineup, moving within 2 1/2 games of Eastern Conference-leading Detroit following a 105-94 victory over Indiana on Tuesday night that clinched a playoff berth.
SIDELINED
Toronto rookie forward Jorge Garbajosa is expected to miss six months after undergoing surgery on his left ankle and leg Tuesday. Garbajosa, who averaged 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds, suffered a displaced ankle joint with a ligament tear and a fractured fibula after falling awkwardly in Monday night's game at Boston.
SURGERY
Milwaukee forward Charlie Villanueva had arthroscopic shoulder surgery Tuesday and is expected to be fully recovered for training camp in October. He played in only 39 games because of injuries, averaging 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds.
BACK ON COURT
Charlotte forward Emeka Okafor practiced Tuesday and is ready to return Wednesday against Atlanta after missing 15 games with a strained left calf. The Bobcats have gone 4-11 without Okafor, averaging 14.9 points and 11.7 rebounds a game.
SPEAKING
''It's been the same thing all year. We play the right way for three quarters. ... We either don't respect the game or don't respect the opponent. It comes back to get you every time.'' - Minnesota coach Randy Wittman after a franchise-worst 25-point blown lead in a 114-106 loss to Seattle on Tuesday night.
Garbajosa to be sidelined six months
Tue, Mar 27, 2007
By Associated Press
TORONTO -- Toronto Raptors forward Jorge Garbajosa is expected to miss six months after undergoing surgery on his left ankle and leg on Tuesday.
Garbajosa suffered a displaced ankle joint with a ligament tear and a fractured fibula after falling awkwardly in Monday night's game at Boston.
He averaged 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in his rookie season.
''We're going to miss Garbo. He brings a lot to our team,'' Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. ''We just hope he has a speedy recovery and gets healthy is ready to play next year.''
Garbajosa was coming back on defense trying to block Celtics forward Al Jefferson's dunk. He fell hard, grabbed his leg and yelled to the bench for help.
The Raptors medical staff covered Garbajosa's leg with a towel. He was later loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled off the court.
Toronto signed Garbajosa to a three-year, $12 million contract last summer after he played 11 seasons in Europe. The 6-foot-9 starter earned a number of honors during his European playing career, including 2005 and 2006 Spanish club finals MVP. He helped Spain win the world championship last summer.
Toronto is already dealing with the loss of No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani, who had an appendectomy last Wednesday and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Wizards Caron Butler (knee) is expected to play
Bobcats Emeka Okafor (calf) is expected to play
Pistons Richard Hamilton is day-to-day (thigh)
Pistons Chris Webber is day-to-day (flu)
Knicks Quentin Richardson is doubtful (back)
Knicks David Lee is doubtful (leg)
Hornets Bobby Jackson is questionable (achilles)
Hornets Peja Stojakovic is out (back)
Bobcats Gerald Wallace is probable (conditioning)
Hawks Zaza Pachulia is questionable (flu)
Bobcats Sean Mayis doubtful (knee)
Bobcats Raymond Felton is probable (thigh)
76ers Andre Iguodala is probable (back)
Bucks Maurice Williams is questionable (infection)
Clippers Sam Cassell is doubtful (groin)
Knicks Quentin Richardson (back) has been downgraded to out indefinitely.
Knicks David Lee (leg) has been downgraded to out indefinitely.
Bucks Mo Williams (infection) is listed as questionable for tonight, but is expected to be in the starting lineup according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal.
Bobcats: Sean May (knee) is not expected to play tonight
Rockets Juwan Howard (knee) has been added to the injury report as questionable for tonight's game.
The Celtics will have just 10 players in uniform tonight against the Magic.
Pacers Jermaine O'Neal has been added to the injury report as questionable for tonight, after tweaking his ankle in Tuesday's game.
Celtics' Olowokandi out for remainder of season
March 28th, 2007
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Boston Celtics center Michael Olowokandi will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured cuboid bone in his left foot.
The 31-year-old Olowokandi, who re-signed with the team during the offseason as a free agent, averaged 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 24 games off the bench. His best game came against San Antonio when he posted a season-high eight points with five rebounds and two blocks.
The University of Pacific product has averaged 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds over his eight-year career.
Pistons Chirs Webber (flu) and Richard Hamilton (flu) both missed today's practice, and they are considered game-time decisions for tonight's game.
Hornets Bobby Jackson (achilles) has been downgraded to out of tonight's game.